Drago's Story

Drago’s Relationship

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 2018

Time× 4:00 am

Natalie was tired.

She was tired and she had no clue why.

On the previous night, she went to bed on time, ate good, exercised, and kept her mind trained on positive things. Her days were as basic as they came but still, she was tired. She's been feeling like this for the past few days and it was starting to concern her a bit. 

"Let's go Ms. Scott, keep up!" Viktor yelled, running in front of her. He turned around, his legs still bouncing as his running paused. "My grandfather runs faster than you and he's dead!" He shouted, trying to get her to catch up.

Natalie looked up from her crouching position only to glare at him. "f**k your granddad." She cursed, which made Viktor chuckle. She bit her lips, feeling pain in her lower region.

He turned around fully and ran towards her. "It's four in the morning, your favorite time of the day to get in a good workout and you're slacking." He lowered himself to match her height. "You alright? You've been offbeat lately." 

"What are you talking about? I'm fine." She replied, her hands on her knees keeping her up. "I'm just tired I guess." An unwanted groan made its way past her lips. "My f*****g v****a hurts though. I think I'm about to be on my cycle again, which really sucks since I already had it this month."

Viktor frowned. Period talk always made him anxious because he always thought about the amount of blood that came from it. He tried his best to never act weird when the subject was brought up so it wouldn't make Nat feel uncomfortable. "Is that normal?" He asked. "To get it twice in one month?"

She nodded. "Yeah, some girls do. It's happened to me before. It's just that it's been a really long time since it last happened."

"You don't sound so sure."

A thought crossed her mind but she quickly rebuked it. She shook her head, trying to get it out of her mind. "I'm fine." She repeated. "I'm one hundred percent sure it's just cramps." That was a lie, she was only eighty percent sure. "It's normal and it'll pass." 

Viktor shook his head. "You sure? Because even when you're on your cycle, you're still pretty active. This feels different." 

Natalie scoffed. "Different? Nothing about this feels different. It's my body Viktor, I'm sure I can tell when there's something wrong with it or when there's something different going on." 

He raised his hand in surrender. "Woah, I'm just putting it out there. I'm sorry if it offended you, I'm just a little worried. I've got the right to be." 

Natalie nodded, standing up straight. "You're right, I'm sorry. I... I don't know what that was. I wasn't trying to snap at you or anything." She walked towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck to place a soft kiss on Viktor's cheek. 

"Maybe you should go to the doctor. It could be something serious." 

Natalie's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she moved away from him. He was being ridiculous right now. "Like what?" She questioned, annoyed. "I'm perfectly fine and healthy. Why is it that every time something sickly happens, a doctor is your first resort? We have herbs for a reason." 

Viktor sighed. This would soon turn into an argument. He could feel it. "Listen, all I'm saying is that for a period of time, you were taking plan B back and forth. What if it's having some negative effects on you? We won't know until you visit a doctor. Not all doctors are out to get you." 

She glared at him. "They were in our own country, what's to say they aren't down here too. I'm a black woman and it may not seem like it to you Viktor, but wherever I go, I'm always going to have a target on my back because of the color of my skin and that's a fact. You can walk in and out of a doctor's office and get the best care that you need, but it'll be different for me... just like how it was different for my mother." 

Her mother. 

Viktor licked his lips. That's what this was all about. 

Natalie's mother's death anniversary... also Natalie's birthday. 

"I understand." He told her and before she could say anything else, he pulled her into a hug. "You're one hundred percent right, I'll back off. Doctors are a big no and I've got to live with that. Thank you for sharing your perspective of things." 

Natalie sighed and her hands dropped to her side. "Don't do that, now I'm going to feel like a b***h for the rest of the day."

Viktor frowned, not understanding how women could be so confusing. If you disagree with them, you're wrong. If you agree with them, you're still wrong. The whole thing was confusing as hell. "Can you still run?" He eventually asked. "I don't mind carrying you back home, it'll save me some time in lifting weights today during practice." He paused. "And before you start, no I'm not calling you fat." 

Natalie smirked. "You know me so well." She looked up at him. "I've been thinking..."

"Uh, oh." He said cutting her off. "That's never good." 

Natalie laughed and slapped his arm. "Shut up, I'm being serious right now."

Viktor chuckled and nodded his head, as his eyes stayed glued onto hers, as they walked hand in hand down the now-familiar crosswalk. "Alright, go ahead. I promise to listen."

"Okay, so as I was saying. I've been thinking lately that maybe we should get us a pet."

"A pet? For what?" 

She shrugged. "You know, to keep me some company while you're gone. I get lonely sometimes when you're not home and I think that a pet will make me feel the total opposite. It doesn't have to be a dog or anything, nor a cat since you're allergic. It could be something else, like a hamster, or a bunny, and probably even a snake." 

Viktor raised an eyebrow at her. "You had me and then you lost me, Nat." He stayed quiet for a moment, before clearing his throat. "If us getting a pet helps you not feel lonely when I'm gone, then sure we can get one. But only one, I know how you get. I'd prefer a fish since fishes don't require much attention. But since you mentioned dog first, I know that's what you really want." 

Natalie's lips twitched upwards into a smile as she squealed. "Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you. You won't regret it, I swear." She placed wet kisses all around his hand. 

"Since your birthday is coming up, that'll be your birthday gift from me. Maybe we can even do something fun on your day." Said Viktor. 

Natalie's body stiffened at the reminder. "There's no need to do anything fun on that day. It's just the day I was born, no biggie. We can stay home and chill, you know I'm fine with that." She laid her head on his arm as they continued their way down the street. Her prying thoughts too focused on her dead mother. Natalie often wondered why her mother had to die on the day she was brought into this world. It didn't make any sense to her, and it wasn't fair. "All I want on that day is to have you by my side, and of course enjoy myself in the comfort of both our home and your arms." 

Viktor smirked. "If that's what you really want, then I've got no problem with that." He bit his lips. "I'm sure we can spend the whole day, figuring out how to make it fun. After all, home is where creative adventures begin." 

"You're a heathen." 

Viktor's face scrunched up. "Hmm, maybe a little." 

They both laughed. 

"Serious talk, hows training and everything going on with your father?" Natalie asked. "You haven't talked about him since the night he called you. Did you guys get into a fight." 

Viktor shook his head. "It wasn't really a fight, it was just him cursing and threatening me... the usual. But for a split second, I was going to snap at him and tell him how I felt... how I actually felt. But then I couldn't and everything went back to how it was." 

"And how did it feel not being able to speak your truth?"

"It hurt." He answered. "I'm his child... his seed. I'm supposed to be able to tell him how I feel. Yet I can't even do that, because he's so... toxic. I'm so tired of hoping that someday our relationship will change and that he'll get me. Like it hurts me so much that he doesn't see me, nor has an actual bond with me. As a kid, do you know how envious I was when I saw sons hanging out with their fathers, having the best of time? It was devastating. And the fact that he can't even accept you, the woman that I love, kills me."

Natalie walked quietly as she listened to him, spilling his heart out. She was hurt that he felt this way... that his father was hurting him. "Your father is a huge asshole that doesn't deserve you, Viktor Drago. You are ten times the man that he'll ever be and if he doesn't see you, then that's his loss. If it counts, I see you. I see how ambitious and silly you are. How hard you're working in order to prove yourself. I see it all."

Viktor's heart felt warm... the good type of warm. He was happy that he was able to talk to Nat about these things and not feel judged. Natalie never judged. Their relationship was getting stronger by the day. "Thanks, Nat."

"No problem, this is what I'm here for. I love talking to you. How about training, is it getting easier or harder?" 

Viktor groaned at the memory of yesterday's practice. "Training is slowly starting to get easier, because now I'm getting used to all the things my coaches are throwing at me, but still it's hard as hell. My body is always sore. I've never had to work this hard, but I'm kinda enjoying it because I like pushing myself to be the best." 

"You already are the best, your stats prove that." Natalie took it upon herself to rewatch all his matches from the very first time he began fighting. Viktor has hands and rhythm. 

His smirk widened. "Well, yeah I know that." He said cockily. "It's just I want everybody else in the world to know that. I want them to give me credit, where credit is due but it's taking some time. When they see me, they don't talk about my stats or accomplishments, they talk about how I'm the son of Ivar Drago and what Ivar Drago did in order to make a name for himself."

"So basically, you're tired of living in your dad's spotlight." 

He shook his head. "It's not necessarily that. My dad is an icon, and I'm grateful to be in his spotlight. It's just sometimes I wished people would stop comparing the two of us and see me beyond who my dad is." 

She nodded, understanding where he was coming from. "I get it." She said, her eyes stayed glued on the dark blue night sky, scanning the yellow stars. "Can I ask you a question without you getting weird about it."

"No promises, but yeah. Shoot." 

"If your mom was here right now, what would you ask her?" 

Viktor frowned. That question was unexpected and it caught him off guard. He didn't like talking or thinking about Ludmilla. "Umm. I'm not sure." He said, trying to think of something. "I can't really ask her why she left me, I already know the answer to that. Greed. And I can't ask her why she didn't call or visit, I already know the answer to that as well. She didn't want me." He answered sarcastically. When he saw the serious look on Natalie's face, he decided to answer honestly. "I guess I could ask her, what was the point of having me if she knew, she didn't truly want me."

"That's a good question." Said Natalie. 

"How about you? What would you ask your mom?"

"There's so much I'd ask her, but I guess I'd only ask her three questions in that moment." She answered. "Was she scared when it happened? Does she watch over me from time to time?" She glanced at Viktor. "Did she ever regret having me?"

"You miss her don't you?"

"Yeah." She scoffed. "Which is crazy, because how could you miss someone you've never met before?" Her hand shook. "I hate feeling like this and it always happens around my birthday. A birthday is supposed to be fun and everything is supposed to be filled with happiness, but it isn't like that for me. I've always hated my birthday because I can always feel like there's something... someone missing. It makes me so depressed. How can I celebrate the day she died bringing me into this world?"

"Can I make a suggestion?" Viktor asked.

"Always." 

"Let's continue not celebrating your birthday and just celebrate your mom," Viktor suggested. "We could only do the things that she liked on that day, maybe even spice it up a bit so you don't feel sad and get all depressed on me. It'll be like a mother s***h daughter day." 

Natalie smiled at him. "That's like the best suggestion ever." 

He smiled. "Really? You think so?" He sighed playfully. "So much for staying home and being creative."

Natalie laughed uncontrollably, the sound of her laughter made Viktor happy. "I'm sure we'll find time to be creative Vik." Natalie's eyes caught sight of a familiar white van. "Oh God, I think your stalkers are on to us."

Viktor caught where she was staring at and groaned loudly. "You've got to be kidding me, it's four-thirty in the morning. Aren't they supposed to be asleep? It's like they don't stop." Ever since the whole fight conference aired, the Paparazzi had invested their time in getting to know and posting about Viktor and his life. Which included his father, mother, and nearly everything they could find out about Natalie. 

"It's seriously only been four days, since the conference episode. I can't believe they're already interested in you. You're like the most boring person in this world." 

Viktor rolled his eyes at her attempt at a joke. "So funny, so very funny." He responded blandly. 

She shrugged. "I'm just saying, at this point a dying cat is more important than you." 

He ignored her. "I think it's time I get an agent."

"I could be your agent," Natalie suggested. It got quiet, both of them paused to look at one another. "Nah." They said together. "It would be too much drama that's first and you're very stubborn." 

"And you're way too punctual and stubborn... so yeah." He trailed off. "I'll look into it though, I'm serious about this agent thing. I think it'll be good for me... us. Especially since I'm the talk of the world now."

"You really aren't, but whatever helps you sleep at night baby." She blinked, feeling the pain in her region again. She said nothing to Viktor this time, not wanting him to bring up going to see a doctor again. "I wonder how they knew we were out here." 

"They probably slept outside the complex and waited to see if we'd come out. I think someone saw us the night before and tweeted about it." He told her. "You think I should invest in security guards as well?" 

"We've been pretty good without any so far." 

"You're right. But there are a lot of sickos out there. I'm not trying to jeopardize my life, nor yours." 

"It's gonna cost you a lot of money." 

"You mean it's gonna cost us a lot of money. The money I earn is for both of us."

Natalie closed her eyes, trying not to make it known that she was in pain. "Although that is nice of you to say, it can't be true. People are gonna think that I'm with you for your money, your dad already thinks so." 

Victor shrugged, paying close attention to the white van as they neared towards their apartment complex. "f**k what people and my dad say. All that matters is us. It's our relationship, not theirs. We can do and run our relationship however we want." 

"You're right. f**k them." 

"Nat?"

"Yes." She answered, with her eyes shut.

"Let me carry you the rest of the way, so you can stop pretending that you aren't in any pain."

Natalie sighed heavily in defeat. Stopping dead in her tracks, she lifted both her arms up like she was a baby wanting to get picked up. "It's crazy how I can't hide anything from you." 

Victor chuckled, before turning around and squatting so that she would be able to climb onto his back. "You telling me, remember that time I tried to hide the fact that I ate your donut." He shivered at the memory. "It's like you're a wizard, you know everything." Natalie wrapped her arms around his neck, just as he held her legs firmly to keep her from falling. When she was comfortable, he lifted her up and started to walk again. "You do know it's because I love you, that I recommend you going to a doctor right?"

"I know." She mumbled, leaning her head down to kiss the back of his neck. "And it's because I love you that I'll consider going... but no promises."

Viktor smiled sheepishly. "That's fine with me." 

Natalie laid her head down on his shoulder, breathing in the smell of his Cologne and sweat. "Ain't it crazy how two people who are completely different, yet are f****d up can be in a relationship with one another."

"You haven't heard the news babe," Viktor said, in a very terrible Surfer accent. "People who are the most f****d up, are the ones to succeed in a relationship." 

"Well amen to that."

"Amen to that," Viktor repeated, making his way into their complex. 

—————

"Viktor!" Natalie shouted at the top of her lungs while laying down in her brand new king-sized mattress that was delivered just a few days ago. Once she got home from her run, she swallowed down two pain relievers and a bottle of water. After twenty minutes went by, the pain was nonexistent. "Viktor come see this s**t!" She shouted again. "Now!" 

"What is it?" He asked, running out of the bathroom and into their bedroom, panicking. "What? What is it? What happened? Are you alright?" 

Natalie face palmed herself because of how overdramatic he was. "Stop being overdramatic, I only called you in here to show you this," She threw her phone at him, but instead of him catching it, it hit his chest before landing on the bed." 

"Ouch, what the f**k Nat. That hurt." He said picking up the phone off the bed.

"It barely touched you." 

He glared at her. "Says every abusive woman out there." His eyes landed on the screen of the phone and he instantly frowned. "Victor Drago carries his pregnant girlfriend home." He read out loud. "How do they come up with these stories? You're not pregnant... right?"

Natalie's eyebrows knitted together. "Of course I'm not pregnant. I just had my period not too long ago." 

"Oh yeah. You did. Thank God." He mumbled the last part. 

"What do you mean thank God?" She asked, looking at him intently. 

"Nothing, nothing at all Детка." (Baby) He still hadn't told her where he stood when it came down to kids. "I'm not sure whether to be impressed or freaked out by what they came up with. Ivar's gonna give me hell about this."

She sat up on the bed. "How come every time the subject about kids come up, you get all weird and start dismissing it?" She asked him, confused. "Do you not want kids or something." When Viktor avoided her gaze, she felt her heart stop. "You don't want kids." This time it wasn't a question, it was a statement. "When were you going to tell me this?" 

Viktor felt like he couldn't breathe. "When the time came, I was going to tell you. I swear." He said, walking towards her. 

Natalie's face deepened. "When the time was right? Seriously? And when would that be? Six years down the road when I say, hey let's finally have a baby?" She questioned angrily. "Way before we jumped into this relationship, I always told you I wanted kids. And you said you were undecided about the situation, not that you didn't want kids. Undecided and not wanting kids are two different things. When did you make up your mind about all of this?"

"I've always known." He confessed. "I— I just didn't know how to tell you."

Natalie felt like her heart was getting crushed. "That... that doesn't make any sense Viktor. We're supposed to tell each other these things, it's the whole point of building a relationship. You basically lied to me..."

"I didn't lie." He said, interrupting her. "I told you that I was undecided about the whole thing, which meant that there was always a possibility that I would say I didn't want any kids. And with that, you still decided that you wanted to be with me."

"So it's my fault that we're here now, arguing about this?!" She yelled, angrily. "God, you're a f*****g asshole!"

Viktor was taken back with confusion. "Really? I'm an asshole because I don't want kids."

"No Viktor, you're a f*****g asshole because you knew from the very start, that I wanted kids... your kids to be exact and instead of telling me that you didn't want any, in the beginning, you basically f*****g lied about it when your mind was already made up! Ты ебаный мудак! Я не могу поверить тебе прямо сейчас!" (You f*****g asshole! I can't believe you right now!)

"I'm sorry." He apologized, sincerely. He knew that she'd react like this. He also knew that the news would hurt her. Since they were kids Natalie always talked about having children.

"What the f**k is your sorry gonna do?! Huh?" She got off the bed and pushed him out of the way so she could put on her gym shorts. 

Viktor had never seen her this angry. He watched as she put on her sneakers angrily. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going on a f*****g walk Viktor! I can't be around you right now." She shouted. "I've got to clear my mind and figure this s**t out since you decided to tell me this now. Literally two whole hours after I started being happy again." 

"Don't leave. We've got to talk about this."

"With what damn time?! You've got practice in about fifteen minutes, you should get there before you're late." She put her trainer jacket on and walked towards Viktor. "Give me my phone." 

"No, not until we talk about this." 

She glared at him. "What's the point of talking about it, when you're gonna tell me the same exact thing, that I was apparently too damn blind to see!" She snatched her phone out of his hand, her breathing erratic. She made her way to walk out their room door but paused. "Bye." It came out of her mouth so low that Viktor barely heard it.

He stared at the back of her, noticing how her body shook with anger. It felt different when she said it first, and for a moment he understood how she must've felt all those other times when he'd walk away from an argument. "Bye." He finally said, his voice sounding raspy. Natalie didn't look back as she walked out the door, leaving him with a guilty conscience. "f**k!" He cursed as the front door slammed. "Why am I always f*****g up?" He wondered out loud. 

He needed to fix this. 

But he didn't know-how. 

He was stuck.